Kopargaon, Nov 10: Accusing the Maharashtra government of "purposely procrastinating" the inquiry into the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, former Director General of Police D S Soman today demanded a CBI probe into the racket. "The scam originated in 1995 but the government did not take it seriously and purposely delayed the probe," he told reporters here.
"If the Telgi case had not been dealt with by the high court, the scam would not have been exposed entirely. The result of the ongoing probe is shameful to the police force and also the state government", he said and demanded CBI to conduct the probe. Alleging that arrest of senior police officers in the case had maligned the image of police, he said it has also affected the confidence among police force.

Soman pointed out that police officers "are working under remote control of politicians" and political interference was evident in the transfers of police officials. Prime accused in the racket Abdul Karim Telgi and others are facing charges of printing and distributing counterfeit stamps and stamp papers in Maharashtra causing losses to the government to the tune of crores of rupees.

Mumbai High Court had appointed former DGP S S Puri as the head of the sit to probe the scam, investigate the role of Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma and other top officers in the racket and file a report on November 12.


Bureau Report